Rate Your Car Sticker: NHTSA Wants Safety Label Feedback
Published Date: 3/7/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants your thoughts on a new survey about the 5-Star Safety Ratings label on car stickers. This research will help make sure the safety info on new cars is clear and useful for everyone. If you have ideas, send them in by May 6, 2025—no cost to you, just your opinion!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
You may be asked to test 5‑Star label
NHTSA plans to recruit members of the public 18 years or older who hold a driver’s license and are decision-makers for vehicle purchases (bought a vehicle in the past 6 months or plan to within 12 months) to take part in testing. The study includes nine 60-minute webcam cognitive interviews and a quantitative survey of 1,000 participants administered online and by phone.
Screening and burden totals disclosed
NHTSA expects to screen about 10,000 people to identify 1,000 survey respondents and nine qualitative interview participants. The agency estimates a total one-time respondent burden of 708 hours and an estimated total annual burden cost of $32,702.
Label redesign to include vulnerable road user rating
NHTSA will use the research findings to guide planned changes to the Government 5‑Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label and to inform future communications; the new concepts include a vulnerable road users safety rating that was not in previous research. The intent is to improve consumer understanding of crash protection, safety technology, and vulnerable road user information when making vehicle purchase decisions.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19964, The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The SAFE Vehicles Rule III updates fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031, making sure manufacturers build vehicles that better match what American families want and need. This rule changes how fuel efficiency is measured and sets new deadlines starting November 30, 2026. It aims to save money at the pump and help the environment by encouraging smarter, more affordable vehicle designs.
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-03724, Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials, Notice of Meeting
The Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials will meet April 2-3, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, to discuss how to improve national cemeteries, memorials, and burial benefits for veterans. The public can join the meetings and share their thoughts on April 3. These talks help shape how veterans’ final resting places are cared for, with no new costs announced.
Next: 2025-03727, Applications for New Awards; Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program-Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) Training and Technical Assistance; Corrections
The Department of Education fixed some rules for the 2025 grant competition helping older people who are blind live independently. They changed how applications are scored, removed some criteria, and extended the deadline to March 31, 2025, with reviews due by May 30, 2025. If you’re applying or involved, these updates give you more time and clearer guidelines to get your best shot!